Wow, have you seen this?

[ScienceIsTruth]

Noticed a thread on MNHQ sitestuff type thing on active asking why you use MN and was heartened to see that FWR seems to be one of the main reasons ppl keep coming back.

That has to be a good thing, right?

Especially now, when it's seems as though things are going backwards and the rights the suffragette movement won for us are teetering on the brink.

I hope everyone adds their bit, or even just has a read, as the contents are mostly encouraging; in that our message is getting through. Will try to link it if I can:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/site_stuff/3377940-Tell-MNHQ-why-you-use-Mumsnet?watched=1&msgid=81404196#81404196

It just shows that this really is one of the few sites where women can chat without being trolled and persecuted. Well done, Mumsnet!

Just added my six penn'orth.

Yes, I saw this and it's amazing.

< insert suffragette flag here >

Apologies to be so ignorant, but can I ask what FWR stands for?

I'm new to this so feeling very clueless!

Joss tweeted a comment I made (before it was deleted) saying that activists such as Joss did not seem to appreciate what a huge and representative sample of British society is on Mumsnet. Clearly I was not wrong as it seems to be the No.1 reason most women are coming to this site because it is a place women can discuss issues that are important to us.

Three of my posts were deleted on that thread by MNHQ. I have been here for years and that has never happened. Joss was active on that thread and Joss clearly was bothered by what I said as Joss tweeted it out on Joss’ s account. Coincidence that my posts were deleted for this first time EVER? I think not .

ridingshotgun

FWR stands for feminism and women's rights.

I think it was changed to Feminism Chat ages ago, but people still call it FWR. I kinda like it, it sounds a bit like it's in code.

@Datun I'm an idiot, I should've guessed that!

I've seen it a few times today (mainly on the thread this refers to). Thought it was something new as I'd not seen it before.

Thanks!

I prefer the old version. I think it should be changed back.

How about changing it to 'We're *WOMEN: we're here to chew gum and kick arse and we're all out of gum'?

I love that!

I'm so bloody heartened by that thread. I can't really believe it.

Threads get started on here, every now and then. So it's understandable that one started on feminism, is going to support feminism.

But that one is in site stuff. It's for anyone to see. Poster after poster saying they came for the baby advice, they stayed for the feminism. They came for the beauty tips, they stayed for the feminism.

It's unbelievable.

To quote a mumsnet cliche, I think I may have something in my eye.

What an amazing thread. I just finished reading, so many women reading these boards and feeling a part of something.

I’m pleasantly amazed by that thread - so many names I don’t recognise saying that FWR has helped them, it’s the reason they stay... wow.

I would LOVE to see the actual figures on traffic - ie how many visits this board has. I know ‘landing via this board’ traffic is up 12x but many don’t land via here.

That's the thing. I came for baby crap. Stayed for fucking sleep advice and support. And then slowly realised that the most intelligent thought, analysis and perspective was here. The Malaysian air crash, the Brexit and Scottish referendum votes, the Cologne attacks... then I realised that the only people talking intelligently about feminism, without being either shut down by, or 'centering' men, were here.

Thanks MN.

What does FWR mean? X

Feminism and women's rights

Oh my word That thread though! That's amazing.

I mean, we sort of knew this because of the user stats about the amount of traffic being driven through FWR, but to see the words of the women behind that traffic is just wonderful

It must be very dusty in here because something is making my eyes water.

I'm still working my way through the thread - it's a thumping majority for the FWR boards!

MNHQ must be finding that very interesting reading. I often feel quite sorry for the mods trying to find a middle ground to let women speak under what must be quite relentless pressure from anti woman activists (and don't get me wrong: I think they don't get this right quite a lot). But this has to highlight to them surely that we are not an annoying distraction that threatens their business: we're driving their business. The clicks are what advertisers pay for. The exposure to their target market.

It's enormously heartening

Indeed. I came for The Archers! I think I probably found my way over here partly as a result of reading the Relationships boards. I've been so heartened to see women over and over again telling other women not to put up with all sorts of abusive and disrespectful behaviour from their partners. So many women seem to have a very low bar, don't see that they are worth more than that. MN has done great work there. That's coming up quite a bit on that thread too.

I was hoping it would cheer you up .

I was pleasantly surprised too, but it's really made me realise that our voices are getting through. Also, that there's quite a lot of people that lurk on these boards, which although we knew, it's nice to have it confirmed.

Oh, it does, science!

It also blows out of the water the theory that I have seen bandied about that the reason for FWR generating the clicks that it does is that it is from people coming here to be aghast at the transphobia, who think we are all hateful, vile people living in an echo chamber, but they are too mortally afraid to anonymously type a few words on a screen to say so.

That looks pretty unlikely as an explanation now, hey?

I've posted on there because this forum gets stick for attracting (shock horror) radical feminists. In reality it attracts so many women from a range of backgrounds.

I joined MN 13 years ago. I consider myself an 'average' mother.

Posters who caused grief on the 'why did you join MN thread' won't be able to conceive the idea that there are many MN posters out there who make their own minds up about feminism without being radicalised by the magical portal.

That women like me, who knew nothing of this, have been welcomed on here, informed, supported and able to express legitimate concerns about issues that affect my life.

The forum is embracing of women. All women. Just as the suffragist movement had members from all walks of life.

I've been a MN user for ages and it because of this forum that I now see the world for what it is. That I am able to voice my concerns without fear of being harrassed. And if I get it wrong, if my posts lack eloquance, they are accepted.

There's patience here. I've said it before, but Datun's superb posts convinced me this was where I needed to be, while R0wan's bloody excellent referencing and informative posts back up the themed we are discussing. Thanks too to the many others who sent DMs and whose posts had me nodding in agreement.

Thank you

It's an amazing thread.

It's, well, interesting that there a few who as well as saying they like Chat or AIBU, also feel the need to say they avoid or block the Feminism board, when this wasn't asked about.

I don't really post about my kids as they're a bit older, so I was hanging round Style and Beauty, Books and so on, and a bit of AIBU and Chat, for entertainment and info.

Can't remember how I stumbled into FWR. My feminism was a bit dormant after years of being too busy with life, but the Feminism board blew my mind and revived it with a vengeance. The standard of writing and thinking and research on there is extraordinary, as is the old school sisterhood. I read it every day and have directed countless women towards it. Massive props (and an awkward North European type hug) to the sisters. You are fabulous.